A completely massive flying ship had risen majestically, soaring through the skies with an imposing grace that defied the laws of gravity.
Its extended wing-sails, like the wings of a mythological bird, propelled the enormous structure through the clouds, while releasing magnetic waves from the rear propellers that hummed with a low and constant purr, creating an energy field that kept it suspended in the air.
The main sail, unfurled like a triumphant flag, captured invisible ethereal currents, adding a touch of nautical elegance to this technological marvel.
The hull of wood reinforced with enchanted metals shone under the midday sun, reflecting the blue tones of the infinite sky, and from the deck one could feel the fresh wind whipping the sails, carrying with it the clean and revitalizing scent of altitude.
Below, the land quickly receded, turning into a blurry tapestry of green fields, winding rivers, and tiny cities that looked like forgotten toys.
Darius Maximoud, leaning against the railing of the upper deck, watched the entire spectacle with a mixture of awe and satisfaction. The wind played with his jet-black hair, refreshing his face as the ship gained altitude, leaving behind the bustle of the Maximoud mansion.
"This trip isn't bad at all," Darius commented quietly, a subtle smile curving his lips. "After all, transmigrating into your fantasy novel does have its perks."
As he felt the fresh air sweep across his face, like a living caress that erased any trace of fatigue, the ship glided through the skies with surprising stability, only interrupted by occasional gentle turbulence that reminded them they were challenging the wind itself.
"I mean, who wouldn't want to travel on a flying ship?" he added to himself, laughing softly, his voice lost in the distant roar of the propellers.
It had already been 3 days since he took his student card after that icy conversation with his mother, Milena Maximoud. In those last 3 days, Darius had reflected on many things, processing the reality of his new existence with a meticulousness that bordered on obsession.
Getting used to his new life was one of them: the body of a 16-year-old teenager, with silver eyes that shone like twin moons, and a family that treated him like an unnecessary burden. But beyond that, he had forged a fabulous and concrete plan to increase his power before arriving at Zenith Block Academy.
He knew that the world he himself had worked on did not forgive the weak; it was a place where power dictated survival, and he, as an anomalous extra, could not afford to be swept away by the main plot's current.
Darius's plan consisted of using his knowledge of the novel to survive all the events that were coming. Since he knew that novel like the back of his hand —besides being the one who had written the original script before its cancellation—, why not start by increasing his power using cheat items?
Those rare and powerful objects that he had scattered throughout the world as easter eggs for secondary characters would now be his salvation. He remembered every detail: their locations, effects, and risks. It was like having a treasure map in his mind, one that no one else possessed.
"And 2 weeks are more than enough to get those cheat items," Darius reflected silently, as the ship veered slightly to avoid a dense cloud formation. "Which I will use to improve my abilities as much as possible."
While thinking, he suddenly felt a light but firm tap on his shoulder that interrupted him and pulled him out of his deep thoughts. Accompanied by a young and calm voice, someone said:
"What are you muttering so much, young Darius?" the voice asked, with a tone of genuine curiosity.
Darius Maximoud, a little startled by the surprise, turned toward that voice, only to realize it was someone he knew.
It was Sebastian, the head butler of the Maximoud mansion, with his emerald-green hair impeccably combed, glasses protecting his sharp vision, and an elegant black suit that gave him an air of absolute formality and discipline. He stood relaxed, hands behind his back, but his green eyes scrutinized Darius with that subtle intensity that always put him on alert.
"Ah, Sebastian, it's you," Darius replied, quickly regaining his composure, although his pulse had raced for a moment.
Sebastian, normally, asked Darius in a puzzled tone.
"Young Darius, are you feeling alright?" he inquired with feigned or genuine concern—it was hard to tell. "You've been acting strange for the past 3 days, even now."
"Why are you so distant?" he added, tilting his head slightly, as if trying to read between the lines.
'Now why is this guy coming to ask me such a stupid question? Is it really that strange for them to see me calm?'
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied calmly, shrugging. "Everything's fine."
Sebastian, not entirely convinced, frowned slightly.
"I understand, sir," he conceded in a respectful tone. "Forgive the question, it's just that this isn't like you. If something is bothering you, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll be inside my cabin."
Darius only replied casually.
"Alright," he nodded briefly, without extending the conversation.
A minute later, Sebastian withdrew with a courteous greeting, disappearing through a hatch toward the interior of the ship. Although Darius wasn't particularly interested in his words, because after all, he knew this novel and every character in it, even the capabilities of some characters.
Sebastian, the leader of the butlers and maids of the Maximoud mansion, a guy so attractive, responsible, hardworking, disciplined, and wholesome. Or so you think when you see his appearance.
In fact, Sebastian was one of the characters Darius most needed to avoid, because beneath those facades and positive expectations hid a strategic, skilled, and completely dangerous mind in different areas: combat, magic, information, espionage, everything.
He was the one who organized the Maximoud family's strategic plans when they had to carry out important missions; more precisely, he was the family's detective. But the most worrying thing was that you never knew what was going through his head, nor what he would do, not even the Maximoud family knew Sebastian's past or his place of origin.
"I have to be careful next time," Darius murmured to himself, watching Sebastian walk away. "I didn't even notice when he approached."
After a journey of several hours on the ship, with the sun setting on the horizon and dyeing the sky in shades of orange and purple, Darius and Sebastian were already at the luxurious hotel that Milena, Darius's mother, had booked for their arrival.
The building was an imposing tower of glass and steel, with illuminated facades that reflected the city lights like a beacon of extravagance.
There were many bellboys waiting for them in an orderly line, giving them way to pass; they were elegant and gleaming, with impeccable burgundy uniforms and white gloves.
One of them approached Darius carefully, helping him take the backpack that was on his back while saying:
"Allow me, young sir," the bellboy offered with a professional smile, extending his hands deferentially.
Then others arrived to guide them inside the hotel, while they saw more of them, luxurious dining rooms with very expensive food arranged in gleaming buffets: black caviar, shaved truffles, aged wines in cut crystal glasses.
Shining gold and diamond statues adorned the corridors, crystal chandeliers in the ceiling resonating a soft great melody like a whisper, chocolate fountains designed as swans pouring sweet cascades, and a very red carpet that gave them passage, plush under their feet like a crimson cloud.
Darius Maximoud was amazed; he knew the Maximouds were extremely wealthy and indulged in very high luxuries and pleasures, but he never imagined how glamorous it was to be part of this, something he had never experienced in his past life, not even in his best stage as a screenwriter.
The hotel was immense; after many tours: infinity pools with views of the horizon, a large private beach with imported white sand and gentle artificial waves, a video game room with holographic screens and virtual reality simulators.
Spa with therapeutic massages and exotic oils, bubbling thermal baths with mineral salts, beauty care with gold colloidal facial treatments—it had everything, a paradise of indulgence that made time stand still.
Darius, under Sebastian's supervision throughout the day, enjoyed each of these wonders.
At one point, while wearing a white robe tied in a high place in the hotel, with 2 cucumber slices on his eyes and a refreshing cleansing face mask, with a towel covering his hair, he was reclining on a chair in the shade of a large rain-proof roof that covered him. The distant sound of artificial waves and the lavender scent enveloped him in absolute peace.
"I can't complain about this," Darius whispered, relaxed. "Having a criminal and wealthy family does have many positive points after all."
Suddenly, getting up shortly afterward in a satisfied manner, he said with a sigh:
"It's time for me to get started with my preparations," he declared, removing the cucumbers and the mask.
After changing back in his assigned hotel room, a well-decorated place with ebony and silk furniture, and a balcony with a high view of the illuminated urban landscape, where his backpack and suitcase were ready.
However, he wouldn't take anything; after leaving the hotel at nightfall, he was in a wide city, with people walking there and different buildings, technologically advanced cars floating a few centimeters off the ground, magnetic bridges holding a wave of vehicles humming in harmony.
While there were many people walking on clean and well-kept streets, it was a bright place that contrasted with the enormous moon rising in the night sky, bathing everything in a silvery glow.
"From everything I see here, that means I'm in the city of Helvik," he observed, recognizing the familiar landmarks from his script.
Suddenly raising his hand for a while to wait for a taxi, he managed to get one that stopped instantly, a green floating vehicle a few centimeters off the ground, with LED lights flashing on the edges.
A mustached man with a black hat and casual clothes asked enthusiastically, hands on the wheel:
"Where can I take you, young man?"
Darius only indicated calmly:
"Take me to the outskirts of the city, please."
He nodded, accelerating and advancing with great trajectory, expecting the city itself. The taxi floated smoothly, passing through avenues illuminated with holographic advertisements and towers that grazed the stars.
He knew it, since he knew these places in the novel so well from reading it so much; he had memorized the names and key details of the world-building.
While he was concentrating on that, when he was writing the script he also focused on improving the characters' dialogues and monologues. He was in the Empire of Valthor, one of the 5 human continent empires.
The Valthor Empire had multiple kingdoms, and it was located in this central kingdom called Zyphora, a very vast kingdom characterized by tourism and commerce; this same kingdom was divided into 3 main large cities: Helvik, an industrial city and the one he was currently in, with its technology factories in the distance.
Ordan, a financial city with banks and stock markets. And Mirel, a city of high residences for high-status people and millionaires of great influence, where Zenith Block Academy was located. Or better known as the high world.
Then there were the smaller cities after each of these main ones. Where even further beyond was the low world, which contained: peripheral neighborhoods, and provinces of very high poverty.
After arriving, Darius ordered the taxi driver to stop right there, on the outskirts of Helvik; now he was ready for everything. The landscape changed to a more rural one, with dirt roads and thick vegetation.
"That'll be 5,000 Den, young man," the taxi driver informed, extending his hand.
Darius paid without saying anything else, until the taxi left, while he was changing in a somewhat isolated place that had few houses but had forests with much more vegetation this time.
He changed into more discreet clothing: a dark cloak to camouflage himself in the night, resistant pants, and boots for the uneven terrain.
"What I need to get is [The Golden Aura Lotus] and [The Enhancing Peach]," he reviewed in a low voice. "These 2 things are essential for me to increase my power."
[The Golden Aura Lotus] was the most important to obtain first there; its function consists of increasing and stabilizing the body's Aura current in a living being, with that his Aura control would improve even if only a little.
And he would carry all that out with Aura cultivation techniques through meditation; in the novel, the author had left a clear explanation in a data entry about that flower, it could be obtained in a place called the gray market, a secret place located in the first city on the outskirts of the Helvik country.
"If I manage to obtain that," Darius thought, "it would help me a lot to perform my Spells more easily as a tactical mage."
"Better control," he added, nodding to himself.
And then there was [The Enhancing Peach]; as its name suggested, that peach enhanced whoever ingested it, but not the abilities as such, but rather the physical statistics and skills of the individual, it reduces the individual's physical exhaustion by 61% and Aura exhaustion by 39%, basically breaking the physical and energetic limits at one point.
"With that fruit it will be much easier and less exhausting for me to cultivate my Aura," Darius reflected. "That will serve me enormously to rise in rank."
"Luckily for me, both [The Enhancing Peach] and [The Golden Aura Lotus] are sold in the same store in the gray market," he added. "So I won't have to make many trips looking for each thing."
"And once I get everything, I'll be able to increase my rank very quickly, so quickly as to surpass the protagonist."